Movies like Finding John Christmas (2003)
The best movies like Finding John Christmas (2003) are A Veteran's Christmas (2018), Kristin's Christmas Past (2013) and Return to Christmas Creek (2018). If Finding John Christmas hooked you with its family and tv movie, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedA Royal Christmas (2014)6.7/10 from 251 votes
- NewestCandy Cane Lane (2023)Released 2023
A Veteran's Christmas (2018)
Captain Grace Garland, a decorated U.S. veteran, returns home after two tours of Search and Rescue in Afghanistan. After being separated from her beloved K9 partner, Grace must rediscover the magic of Christmas. When she finds herself stranded in the town of River’s Crossing a couple weeks before Christmas, the local judge, Joe Peterson, offers her a place to stay on his property and takes it upon himself to show Grace everything she has been missing; Christmas, family, community, and love.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKristin's Christmas Past (2013)
Kristin, a cynical 34-year-old, drinks a mysterious champagne on Christmas Eve and wakes up seventeen years in the past, sharing a room with her 17-year-old self. Given the chance to change the worst Christmas of her life, she attempts to fix past mistakes, only to discover surprising truths about her family that may help her mend her present-day relationships.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisReturn to Christmas Creek (2018)
As Christmas approaches, Amelia Hughes, a career-focused Chicago app developer lacking in holiday spirit, returns to her small hometown of Christmas Creek to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. There, she reunites with her childhood best friend Mike and her estranged uncle Harry, whose mysterious rift with Amelia’s father divided her family during the holiday season when she was a child.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMy Christmas Prince (2017)
Samantha, a dedicated teacher in Manhattan, returns to her home town of Maple Falls, Wyoming every year for Christmas. This year, she’s delighted when her boyfriend Alex, a European diplomat from the tiny country of Madelvia, decides to joins her. Samantha later discovers Alex is actually a prince destined for the throne, turning her entire world upside down. Realizing that staying with Alex means spending her life in the constant glare of publicity and giving up the job opportunity of a lifetime, Samantha must decide if she loves Alex enough to make the transition from teacher to royal – or will it be too big a leap
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisAnnie Claus Is Coming to Town (2011)
This year, Santa’s daughter takes her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season hoping to find adventure and love in sunny California. While Santa watches his daughter through a magic snow globe, Annie arrives in L.A. and becomes friends with the owner of Candy Cane Inn, Lucy, and her daughter, Mia. She also quickly lands a job at Wonderland Toys. Wonderland Toys’ owner, Ted is struggling to stay in business selling old-fashioned toys in a digital world. Annie soon realizes that she wants Ted’s business to thrive because she has feelings for this Christmas traditionalist.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Royal Christmas (2014)
A young working girl with a blue-collar background is surprised when her new fiancé announces he is actually a prince of a small sovereign country in Europe. After the couple quickly takes off to spend the holidays at his family’s sprawling, royal castle, she must work hard to win over her disapproving and unaccepting future mother-in-law—the Queen—and find out if love truly can conquer all.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPicture a Perfect Christmas (2019)
An extreme-sports photographer returns home for the holiday to take care of her grandmother, only to have a neighbor grab her attention as he needs assistance watching his young nephew.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCandy Cane Lane (2023)
Determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, family man Chris makes a pact with an elf to help him out-do the competition. However, the elf casts a spell bringing the twelve days of Christmas to life, unleashing chaos on the small unsuspecting town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBorrowed Hearts (1997)
Single mom Kathleen Russell (Roma Downey) and her daughter Zoey pretend to be Kathleen's boss's "family" so he can close a major business deal with the mysterious Mexican financier Javier Del Campo.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Christmas Carol (1997)
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPoinsettias for Christmas (2018)
It’s just weeks before Christmas when Ellie gets a call to return home to help her father on the family’s poinsettia farm. The family business is on the line to deliver tens of thousands of plants for the town’s annual parade. The problem is — the poinsettias have yet to turn red! As Ellie searches for the solution, she is reminded of where her heart truly lies as she falls in love with both her roots and a local botanist.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisClick & Collect (2018)
To save his daughter's Christmas, Andrew goes on a road trip with Dev, his neighbour from hell, to buy an elusive Sparklehoof the Unicorn Princess.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHow Sarah Got Her Wings (2015)
Good Samaritan Sarah Fitzpatrick has a fatal accident just before Christmas, and finds herself in the lobby before the gates of Heaven. Certain that she will be let in, she is shocked to find that her name is not on the reservation list. However, she is granted the chance to return to Earth as an "angel in training" with the requirement to help a soul in need. Sarah has the 12 days before Christmas to secure her place on the list leaving her in the race for her after-life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Mistle-Tones (2012)
Holly, blessed with an amazing singing voice, is all set to audition for the newly vacated spot in a legendary local Christmas group which was founded by her late mother years ago. Shocked and upset when the slot goes to the barely talented best friend of the group's leader, Marci, Holly sets out to create her own musical group, The Mistle-Tones. After challenging their rivals to a sing-off on Christmas Eve, Holly finds herself on a journey to the real meaning of Christmas with some new friends and a new love thrown in for good measure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJingle Bell Princess (2021)
An actual princess has some mechanical issues and is temporarily grounded. Does she have time for a lobster roll? It is Christmas time in Maine which means snow, quaint scenery, and lots of Christmas lights near the ocean. With the crew distracted attending to the repair, Princess Amelia deplanes to walk through a magical Christmas tree lot near the airport perimeter.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChristmas Around the Corner (2018)
Claire (Alexandra Breckenridge), a savvy venture capitalist from New York City, escapes to a quaint town in Vermont for the holidays and becomes a guest of the Fortenbury Bookstore. Upon arrival, Claire finds Christmas celebrations have been canceled by the town after a flood and the bookstore is in a dire state of disrepair. She immediately takes on the challenge to revitalize the store, but clashes with the owner, Andrew (Jamie Spilchuk), who initially rejects all her proposed improvements. Eventually, sparks fly as the two begin a budding romance, and Claire’s infectious optimism inspires Andrew to join her in reviving the yuletide spirit. But everything comes to a screeching halt when Claire discovers that Andrew is planning to sell the bookstore in the New Year. Will the spirit of Christmas be enough to change Andrew’s mind and encourage him to follow his heart?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHoliday Harmony (2022)
A likeable and talented underdog gets momentarily sidelined from chasing her musical dreams when her van breaks down in a welcoming small town just before Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love (2019)
Multiple coincidences and a chance meeting bring together Alice and Jack, two strangers from very different family backgrounds, for an unexpected Christmastime courtship filled with personal revelations, misread signals, and a very real health scare that will either destroy or strengthen the budding romance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Merry Christmas Match (2019)
Corey Calvin lives in a ski village where she works at her late father's local antique shop, having sidelined her her big city dreams of becoming a theater director. When Los Angeles hunk Ryder Donnelly comes into her shop, sparks fly and she starts to wonder what could be.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChristmas in the Heartland (2017)
Kara and Jessie are two teenage girls from very different worlds, but with a little Christmas magic, they find they have much more in common than they ever imagined.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Christmas Secret (2014)
While her life is falling apart, single mother Christine finds a magical family heirloom that leads to love and good fortune during Christmas.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Christmas Wedding (2006)
Emily (Sarah Paulson) and Ben (Eric Mabius) find their plans to marry on Christmas day coming apart at the seams when Ben is left to plan the wedding details after Emily is forced to go on a business trip. Though Emily, a perfectionist, is determined to have a fairytale wedding, she realizes that love is all that really matters when a freak storm threatens to keep her from making it home in time for the big day.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
A Christmas Miracle for Daisy (2021)
Whitney Alder owns interior design firm Marietta Designs, which she runs with her friend Andi in the small town of Marietta, Montana. Whitney is designing Santa’s float for the annual Marietta Christmas Parade when a potential job opportunity comes her way: the full redesign of a landmark home by Christmas Eve.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisElmo's Christmas Countdown (2007)
There's a miracle on Sesame Street in this special holiday tale. Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and their new friend Stiller the Elf are going to count down to Christmas with the Christmas Counter-Downer. But all the counting boxes have gone missing and Christmas may never come again!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
The Sons of Mistletoe (2001)
A foster home for boys is in danger of being closed when its benefactor dies.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Alle unter eine Tanne (2014)
Elli and Robert have been divorced for three years. But for the festive season, they pretend to be a happy couple for their children, while the crisis-ridden offspring pretend to be in harmony with their parents. This year, the tree will burn: Robert's new lover and Elli's lover are not invited, but come anyway...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
CBeebies Presents: The Nutcracker (2016)
Two children have a magical Christmas Eve adventure as they travel to the Land of Sweets and witness their toys coming to life! Staged at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with a cast packed full of CBeebies stars, this production is a festive treat for the whole family.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Santa Baby 2 (2009)
Santa's in the midst of a late-life crisis -- he's tired of the responsibilities of the job and is ready to pass on the reins to Mary, who feels torn between the family business and running her own high stakes firm in New York City, along with balancing a relationship with the love of her life, Luke (Dean McDermott). The situation gets increasingly dire when Teri, an ambitious new arrival to the North Pole, sows dissension at the workshop in an effort to take over Christmas.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Christmas with a Prince: The Royal Baby (2021)
Things get complicated for the expecting Prince Alexander and Dr. Tasha when a Royal State Visit is planned abroad, passing through her hometown. The couple must struggle with defying tradition and delivering, literally, on expectations.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Shelby: The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2014)
This isn't just a Christmas miracle... It's Christmas magic! In this heart-warming family tale, rescue dog Shelby manages to escape the dog pound on Christmas Eve and runs straight into the arms of little Jake (John Paul Ruttan, Robocop). Immediately the two are inseparable! Jake wants to be a magician and Shelby soon becomes the best friend and magical assistant he's always wanted... The only thing standing between them and a perfect Christmas is the notorious local dogcatcher - he has Shelby in his sights and he's not going to stop until he finds him! Can Shelby and Jake conjure up a little Christmas magic to save the day?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Like Finding John Christmas and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Finding John Christmas?
The closest matches to Finding John Christmas are A Veteran's Christmas (2018), Kristin's Christmas Past (2013) and Return to Christmas Creek (2018). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Finding John Christmas?
Start with A Veteran's Christmas (2018), the closest match to Finding John Christmas.
What is the highest-rated movie like Finding John Christmas?
A Royal Christmas (2014), rated 6.7/10 by 251 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Finding John Christmas?
Candy Cane Lane (2023) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Finding John Christmas?
Yes: A Veteran's Christmas (2018), Kristin's Christmas Past (2013) and Return to Christmas Creek (2018).
How are movies similar to Finding John Christmas chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Finding John Christmas, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.